Furnace vs Boiler in St. Louis County, Missouri
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It runs on natural gas like a boiler does, and that same ductwork can carry air conditioning too, which matters once summer comes back around. With winter nights averaging 26°F here, you want a system that recovers fast, and forced air heats a room up quickly once it kicks on.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. It costs about 5% less to run than a furnace at Missouri prices, and the heat it puts out tends to feel steadier through a long, cold night. It will not move air for cooling, so you would still need a separate way to handle summer.
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It runs on natural gas like a boiler does, and that same ductwork can carry air conditioning too, which matters once summer comes back around. With winter nights averaging 26°F here, you want a system that recovers fast, and forced air heats a room up quickly once it kicks on.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. It costs about 5% less to run than a furnace at Missouri prices, and the heat it puts out tends to feel steadier through a long, cold night. It will not move air for cooling, so you would still need a separate way to handle summer.
Furnace
- Runs on
- Natural gas
- What it does
- Heats only
- Tax credit
- No federal tax credit since the end of 2025
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy · Internal Revenue Code
Boiler
- Runs on
- Natural gas
- What it does
- Heats only
- Tax credit
- No federal tax credit since the end of 2025
Sources: U.S. Department of Energy · Internal Revenue Code
Furnace wins in St. Louis County.
In the Plains states, 77.6% of homes heat with a furnace, so most already have the ductwork it needs.
If your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes instead of ductwork, a boiler is still the better fit.
Find a contractor| Compared on | Furnace | Boiler |
|---|---|---|
| Cost to run here | Costs more to run | About 5% less to run |
| What it does | Heats only | Heats only |
| Homes in the Plains states that heat with one | 77.6% | 6.5% |
| Handles a 26°F night | Yes | Yes |
Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, NOAA
When a furnace makes sense
If your house already has ductwork, a furnace is the straightforward choice. It runs on natural gas like a boiler does, and that same ductwork can carry air conditioning too, which matters once summer comes back around. With winter nights averaging 26°F here, you want a system that recovers fast, and forced air heats a room up quickly once it kicks on.
When a boiler makes sense
A boiler makes sense if your home already has radiators or in-floor pipes rather than ducts. It costs about 5% less to run than a furnace at Missouri prices, and the heat it puts out tends to feel steadier through a long, cold night. It will not move air for cooling, so you would still need a separate way to handle summer.
A St. Louis County contractor will price both against your own house, your ductwork and your panel.
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